Boston List CTU August 2014 Why Boston Matters Boston is a great city for lots of reasons, but first and foremost, it is extremely comfortable with itself. It is mature with many stories to tell. There is quite a history, but with some great things to come. A lot of cities aspire to be something different or like somewhere else, but Boston is just fine with the way it is. Beantown has great neighborhoods and so many outstanding universities. It feels like a big college town. Bostonians are opinionated and educated, which always makes for lively conversation at the pub, tavern or bookstore. This city is a collection of unique neighborhoods and, as usual, the best way to experience urban life is on foot. Great walks abound. The brownstones in Beacon Hill are timeless, the shops and restaurants on Newbury Street are wonderful, the North End is historic and quirky, the waterfront is fun and exciting, the panoramic skyline view from the Harvard Bridge is outstanding, the South End exemplifies gentrification and renewal, and the parks are some of the best in the country. The Make Way for Ducklings statue in the Public Garden is a must see. This was my favorite book as a child and it seemed so exciting that the ducks got to live in the bustling city. The Big Dig is complete and it was a huge infrastructure project that caused a mess, but the results were worth it. The Rose Kennedy Greenway is a great example of a new urban linear park and shows how you can take an old dysfunctional elevated highway and turn it into green space that is a public asset and urban jewel. In Cambridge, Kendall Square is the national model for an innovation district anchored by a leading university. The Fort Point District, with Seaport Square anchored by District Hall, is the up and coming tech/creative neighborhood. I think Boston is an appealing mix of the old and new, rooted in history but with an eye towards the future. This city is always learning. And, by the way, two final thoughts - baseball at Fenway and lobster rolls at Neptune Oyster or B & G Oysters. Perfect. Hotels Fifteen Beacon (CTU favorite) 15 Beacon Street (617) 670-1500 xvbeacon.com Fairmont Copley Plaza 138 St. James Avenue (617) 267-5300 fairmont.com/copley-plaza-boston Hotel Nine Zero 90 Tremont Street (617) 772-5800 ninezero.com
Hotels (continued) Four Seasons 200 Boylston Street (617) 338-4400 fourseasons.com/boston Liberty Hotel 215 Charles Street (617) 224-4000 libertyhotel.com The Langham 250 Franklin Street (617) 451-1900 boston.langhamhotels.com Copley Square Hotel 47 Huntington Avenue (617) 536-9000 www.copleysquarehotel.com Restaurants Mistral (CTU favorite) 223 Columbus Avenue (617) 867-9300 mistralbistro.com Neptune Oyster (CTU favorite) 63 Salem Street (617) 742-3474 neptuneoyster.com No. 9 Park 9 Park Street (617) 742-9991 no9park.com O ya 9 East Street (617) 654-9900 oyarestaurantboston.com
Grill 23 161 Berkeley Street (617) 542-2255 grill23.com B & G Oysters 550 Tremont Street (617) 423-0550 bandgoysters.com Eastern Standard 528 Commonwealth Avenue (617) 532-9100 easternstandardboston.com Towne Stove and Spirits 900 Boylston Street (617) 247-0400 towneboston.com Abe & Louie s Steakhouse 793 Boylston Street (617) 536-6300 abeandlouies.com Hamersley s Bistro 553 Tremont Street (617) 423-2700 hamersleysbistro.com Atlantic Fish 761 Boylston Street (617) 267-4000 atlanticfishco.com Island Creek Oyster Bar 500 Commonwealth Avenue (617) 532-5300 islandcreekoysterbar.com Legal Harborside 270 Northern Avenue (617) 477-2900 legalseafoods.com/restaurants/boston-legal-harborside
Boston Chops 1375 Washington Street (617) 227-5011 bostonchops.com Ostra 1 Charles Street (617) 421-1200 ostraboston.com Trade 540 Atlantic Avenue (617) 451-1234 trade-boston.com Sonsie (lunch) 327 Newbury Street (617) 351-2500 sonsieboston.com Stephanie s on Newbury (lunch) 190 Newbury Street (617) 236-0990 stephaniesonnewbury.com Joe s American Bar & Grill on Newbury (lunch) 181 Newbury Street (617) 536-4200 joesamerican.com OAK Long Bar + Kitchen at the Fairmont Copley Plaza (drinks) 138 St James Avenue (617) 267-5300 oaklongbarkitchen.com Alibi and Liberty Bar at Liberty Hotel (drinks) 215 Charles Street (857) 241-1144 alibiboston.com Minibar Lounge at Copley Square Hotel (drinks) 51 Huntington Avenue (617) 424-8500 minibarboston.com
Mooo at Fifteen Beacon (drinks) 15 Beacon Street (617) 670-2515 mooorestaurant.com Mike s Pastry (afternoon sweets) 300 Hanover Street (617) 742-3050 mikespastry.com The Fours (sports bar near Boston Garden) 166 Canal Street (617) 720-4455 thefours.com Post 390 (tavern) 406 Stuart Street (617) 399-0015 post390restaurant.com Neighborhoods/Walks Back Bay - Newbury Street, Boylston Street, Copley Square South End Tremont Street Beacon Hill - Charles Street, side streets with brownstones, Public Garden, Boston Common North End Faneuil Hall, Rose Kennedy Greenway lineal park Harbor Walk www.bostonharborwalk.com Cambridge/Harvard Square Harvard Bridge/MIT/Stata Center, Kendall Square, Charles River Park Fenway Park, Red Sox Game, Kenmore Square Fort Point District - Institiute of Contemporary Art (ICA) www.icaboston.org, District Hall Hubway bike share Commonwealth Avenue Mall lineal park